Updates

Executive order creates national declassification center

President Barack Obama issued an executive order on Dec. 29 creating a national declassification center. The center's mission is to declassify government materials and make them available to the public.

The detailed order also establishes the principle that no records may remain classified indefinitely and provides deadlines for declassifying information exempted from automatic declassification at 25 years.

The center will be part of the National Archives, and its director will be chosen by the archivist of the United States in consultation with the secretaries of State, Defense, Energy, and Homeland Security, the attorney general, and the director of National Intelligence.

The executive order said the establishment of the national declassification center is effective immediately.

Obama orders review with goal of a national declassification center

President Barack Obama asked his national security adviser, James L. Jones, to begin a 90-day review for recommendations on creating a center to expedite the release of classified documents.

In a presidential memo issued May 27, 2009, Obama wrote he wanted "unprecedented level of openness" in his administration. A declassification center could speed the release of information to the public, he said.

Obama also wanted recommendations on measures to prevent the unnecessary classification of information, as well as preventing declassified information from becoming classified again.

This review is a tangible step toward the creation of a national declassification center. We rate this promise In the Works.